Editor’s Note: News like this gives hope to the catfish community that public input into catfishing regulations can be beneficial. South Dakota is considering changes to flathead regulations based on a public petition. As of this writing a public hearing was scheduled to take place on March 5, 2020.

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission has proposed to establish a length limit on flathead catfish. A final determination whether to move forward with the proposed change will occur at their March meeting.

The new rule would allow for one flathead catfish over 28 inches per day on inland waters. The original proposal was made at the November commission meeting and included all waters in the state, including border waters, and originated from the public petition process. At their December meeting, the commission reduced the scope of the change to inland waters only, instead of statewide.

John Lott, Fisheries Chief, informed the commission that a meeting will be taking place in February to discuss catfish management with Iowa and Nebraska. The goal of the meeting will be to develop common regulations for catfish on border waters.

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